Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-07-30

hls IaltuluI So1oIer dld not long survive
him.
Ia 1898 the battle of Worms was
fought, which gave to Rudolph's son
Albert, the imperial crown of Germany,
the crown that on account of his cruel
and tyrannical acts, had been denied
him.
For three years after that battle the
German emperor was engaged in war
fare--frst with the king of Bohemia,
and afterward with the pope Boniface
VIII. But when the wars were ended,
Albert commenced to reward the tools
who had aided him to climb to the
heights Of power.
Foremost among the emperors favor
ties was a soldier of fortune, Ludwig of
Kurt, an unknown adventurcr, who had
no right to claim kinship with the old
family of the Hurts of Alten-Aar.
The emperor wished to reward this
Ludwig for his services, and so he
looked around for some strong castle to
give to Ludwig's keep.
The eyes of the tyrant fell upon the
Tower of Averbock. Conrad of Kiphau-
sen was dead, and his daughter, Joque-
line, flaxcn- haired beauty of twenty,
held her fathers lands, and was toasted
much by the neighboring gallants under
the title of the Lady of Avcrboch."
Many German lord had laid siege to
the heart of the heiress of Averbock,
and report limited that the young Lord
of Eberstinc was the favored lover.
The tyrant noted the Castle of Aver
book and its fair lady. lie sent mes
sage to her and proposed to we'd her to a
noble knight of his court for the great
love he had borne her. father, the dead
Conrad. But the spirited Joqueline,
whose carly life had been spent in the
tented field, and who possessed a war
rior's heart beneath her sllken robes, de-
clincd the cmpcror's offer. She under
stood that the crafty Albert coveted her
fair castle for one of his favorites.
The tyrant was not easily batfled, and
a royal herald rode to the Castle of Aver,
boch and made proclamation that Lud-
wig of Kurt, cousin to the dead lord,
Evcrhard, the Rhcnish red beard,
claimed the domain of Averboch, and
that the emperor summoned the lady to
appear at his imperial court to contest
the claim.
That the advcnturer was neither kith
nor kin to tho old robber lord was ap-
|, parent to all but what Justice could one
expect at the hands Of a tyrant, eager
| to reward one of his: minions.
The emperor affected to hear the case
both parties made their statements, tht
adventurer backing his claim 10y twenty
rogucs, who swore right stoughtly that
they knew him to be the cousin of the
| old red beard.
Joqueline was in despair, for she saw
that the trial was farce, and that the
emperor intended to decide agains
her regardless of tho truth, and
as the last resource, she claimed
the "ordcal by BATTLE" the right
of every noble when life or prop
crty was at stake.
Grant her prayer, most, noble EN-
pcror." cried the advehturer, coniden
in his skill in arms. Let her produce ;
chamnion, and if with lance do no
prove that my cause is just, then all
content to lose"
Within one week Joqueline must pro
duce champion in the lists ready t
contend with Ludwig or lose her estate
The maiden counted that young Eber
stinc would fight for her, but ere tn
time came, on q couch of sickness tn
young lord lay.
The trumpcts sounded in the lists be
tore the emperor and his court, on tn
appointed day, when Ludwig cast III;
| SLCpI-Cldu GduuliCt op"A
lady nor her ch lmpjon seemed at hand
but at the last summons slightly o"'I
knight, arrayed in armor, with the wise
down. rode into the lists. The knl5l
was stranger to all. A purple pun
1oatcd from his helmet, hut his shiei
was clear of device.
"Ho, you, Purple Plume" quoth tn
emperor, Fl shtest thou for the lady
Averboch2"
The knight bowed, the trumpets CAV
the signal, and the contest began.
With levclcd lances Ludwig and II
unknown knight rushed upon each othe
lint heaven was with the right, for II
horse of the aiventurcr shed, AMI Luz
wigs lance, forced upward, struck II
helmet from the head OF the Purp
Plume without hahn ag him, but Il
lance of the unknown took Ludwlg III
!, the throat. AMI hurled him 'ifeless